Tightener for folding wheel chair



Jan. 7, 1958 D. HAW-KIN;

TII IGHTENER FOR FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR Filed Nov. 18, 1955 H HM... mm.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent TIGHTENER FOR FOLDING WHEEL CHAIR Dean Hawkins, Conrad, Mont. Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,767 1 Claim. (Cl. 155-30) This invention relates to a wheelchair.

The object of the invention is to provide a tightener for a wheelchair whereby the seat of the chair can be made more comfortable for the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for use with a collapsible wheelchair whereby the side members of the wheelchair will be maintained in their proper spaced apart relation, so that the seat of the wheelchair will be more comfortable to the user of the wheelchair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tightener for a folding wheelchair which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wheelchair showing the tightener of the present invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the tightener, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the tightener connected to the rails of the wheelchair.

Figure 4 is a view illustrating the folding of the tightener, and with parts broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates a conventional wheelchair of the collapsible or fo-ldable type, and the wheelchair 10 includes the usual traction wheels 11 and caster wheels 12. The wheelchair 10 further includes a pair of side members 14 which are mounted for movement towards and away from each other, and each side member 14 may include a lower tubular rail 15, Figure 1.

The present invention is directed to a tightener which is indicated generally by the numeral 16, and the tightener 16 serves to maintain the side members 14 in their spaced apart relation so that the seat of the wheel chair will not accidentally pinch the occupant of the chair whereby the wheelchair can be used in greater comfort. The tightener 16 includes a pair of body members 17 and 18 of similar construction, and each of the body members is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 19. Each bore 19 includes a threaded portion 20, Figure 2.

There is further provided a pair of shafts 21, and each of the shafts 21 projects into a corresponding bore 19. Each shaft 21 is provided with a threaded portion 22 which threadedly engages the threaded portion 20 of the bore 19.

Mounted on the outer end of each of the shafts 21 is a yoke or fork 23, and each yoke 23 includes a pair of spaced apart fingers or legs 24. Thus, each yoke 23 has a substantial U-shape. Each of the fingers 24 terminates in flat end portions 25. The flat end portions 25 are provided with apertures 26 which register with diametrically opposed apertures 27 in the rails 15, Figure 2. A suitable pin or bolt and nut assembly 28 exice :The. .body :members .17 .and;18 are hingedly connected =together. Thus,.the body member :17 may be provided withtantapertured-r ear .29 WhlGhIlSPOSlllOIlGCl between a pair FDf zapertured cars 30 which extend from the body member 18, there being :aipivot ;pin .31 interconnecting the ears 29 and 30 together. The body member 17 is provided with a recess 32 which defines a shoulder 33, and a lip or stop member 34 extends from the body member 18 and the lip 34 is received in the recess 32.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a tightening device which is especially suitable for use on wheelchairs of the collapsible or folding type. In use, the yokes 23 may be arranged as shown in the drawings so that the apertures 26 register with the apertures 27 in the rails 15. Then, the bolts 28 can be extended through these registering apertures so as to connect the yokes to the rails of the side members. Thus, with the device as shown in Figure 1, the side members 14 will be maintained in their proper spaced apart relation so that the side members will not accidentally move together whereby the seat will be more comfortable to use by the occupant. Thus, the seats of the wheelchairs are of flexible material such as leather or canvas and when the side members 14 move together with the person in the wheelchair, the seat will be uncomfortable to sit in. With the present invention, it will be impossible for the side members 14 to move together or towards each other due to the provision of the tightener 16. As shown in Figure 2, one of the shafts 21 has a left hand thread while the other shaft 21 has a right hand thread for engaging the body members 17 and 18. The length of the tightener can be adjusted or varied as desired without removing the bolts 28. Thus, by adjusting the shafts 21 so that they are the same length before the parts are secured together, the members can pivot as shown in Figure 4 about the pin 31, as when the wheelchair is to be folded or collapsed.

The holes 27 may be drilled in the chair frame. As shown in Figure 2 there is a space between the rails 15 and the yokes 23 so that sufiicient clearance is provided when the shafts are being pivoted. If desired the tightener may be made rigid instead of collapsible. The tightener of the present invention is adapted to be used for folding the wheelchairs which use or have leather seats or seats made of other soft material. The tightener could be attached to the wheelchair in other ways besides that shown in Figure 1, as for example the tightener may extend between upper portions instead of lower portions of the chair. Thus, with the tightener the seat will be more rigid and the chair will be more comfortable.

I claim:

A collapsible wheelchair comprising a pair of side members mounted for movement towards and away from each other, said side members each embodying lower tubular rails, means extending between said side members for retaining said side members in their open position away from each other, so that the seat of the wheelchair will not accidentally pinch the occupant of the chair whereby the wheelchair can be used in greater comfort, said means comprising first and second body members of similar construction each provided with a longitudinally extending bore, a section of each of said bores being threaded, a shaft extending into each of said bores and having an exteriorly threaded portion threadedly engaging the threaded portion of said bore, a U-shaped yoke mounted on the outer end of each of said shafts and straddling a rail of the side member, each of said yokes embodying a pair of spaced apart fingers each terminating in a flat end portion having an aperture, there being 3 apertures in the rails of said side members registering References Cited in the file of this patent With the apertures in said fingers, securing elements ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS tending through send registering apertures for malntarmng the yoke connected to the rail, ears connected to said 370,063 Judson P 20, 1887 body members, a pin pivotally connecting the ears of said 909,411 Hockney 9 body members together, there being a recess in one of 1,002,001 Short Allg- 29, 1911 said body members defining a shoulder, and a lip extend- 216051523 Llewellyn 5, 1952 ing from the other of said body members for engaging 26491309 Delssner 18, 1953 said recess and shoulder, there being a space between the rails and the yokes so that sufiicient clearance is provided 10 when the shafts are being pivoted. 

